Jeanice Falls never played basketball, but ask Arkansas Tech Golden Suns players from the past two decades and they’ll tell you she’s All-America as a fan.

Falls, a member of the Arkansas Tech Class of 1938 and the person generally considered to be the No. 1 fan of Golden Suns basketball, hosted a reception for Arkansas Tech women’s basketball players and coaches at Emeritus at Wildflower in Russellville on Tuesday night.

“It’s awesome to have such great support from Miss Jeanice,” Arkansas Tech senior and four-year letter winner Jessica Weatherford said. “You can count on her to be at every game, and she’s going to be in the exact same seat cheering us on. It’s amazing to have a fan like that.”

Falls has hosted similar events for Golden Suns teams for the better part of two decades, ever since she became a fan thanks to some encouragement from a friend.

“Bob Young’s mother, Juanita, and I were very good friends,” Falls said. “She got me started attending basketball games, and I got such that I loved it, particularly the girls.”

Falls, 94, fondly remembers the Golden Suns’ back-to-back NAIA national championship teams in 1992 and 1993. She’s watched the program transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II and from the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference to the Gulf South Conference to the Great American Conference.

Along the way, the Golden Suns have risen to No. 3 in NCAA Division II in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage.

Falls has been there every step of the way, attending almost every home game, a number of road and postseason games and listening in on the radio when she cannot attend in person.

“I didn’t play basketball in high school or college,” Falls said. “I was one of those kids who couldn’t hit a ball or throw a ball or anything. I had no coordination.”

Even though she’s never scored a point for the Golden Suns, Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers said that fans like Falls are critical to every successful program.

“Our players look for her when they come out to warm up,” Wilbers said. “She’s our No. 1 fan, and she’s always early to the games. She’s always got a big smile on her face, and win or lose, she’s always there supporting the team. The girls appreciate that. We have so many fans like that. They get to know the players and they know their families. Jeanice has been a great supporter, and really a great member of the team.”